We recognized that it is the people, and we labeled lots of them by name. Of those named, several were “doing their job” in other words getting paid for it. Not to diminish what they do, but it came under that heading.

We then recognized that many, many of our fellow citizens who toil in relative obscurity, receive a sort of remuneration that has nothing to do with the Benjamins. They work for satisfaction. They are called volunteers.

So……….is that it? Of course not! These wonderful people are involved in what the Garrison City has to offer.

Some of those things are, in no particular order:

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire – it has everything for kids. They have fun while learning (great for mommies, daddies and grandparents too). Set on the shores of the Cochecho River it is surrounded by our mills.

Speaking of mills some of our “hidden” gems (or maybe not so hidden) are the Washington Street Mills, formerly known as One Washington/Clarostat. The buildings, which were erected in the 1880's are a business and cultural center and are chock–a-block with all kinds of interesting enterprises, five stories of almost everything. The next time you are downtown, check it out.

We are just past St. Patrick's Day and in town everybody was Irish-for-the-day. Dover actually has a huge Irish connection going back close to two hundred years. Annually the community celebrates that heritage with…you got it, The Irish Festival! It will take place this year in September and is an absolute hoot.

Speaking of festivals, you all know of the Apple Harvest Fest which brings over 30,000 people into the downtown area each October.

Last year, the organizers took a break from Dover Night Out, but I understand they'll be back in August.

Do you like folk music, country rock, beatles? The Cochecho Arts Festival will delight your musical palate with those genres and much more. Back for the 27th year, the focal point is Friday nights, but they offer a panoply of events throughout the summer. (Yes, Dover does have a summer, and yes…..it is coming!)

Would you like to take a stroll through a semi urban path about a mile long? It is a section of The Community Trail, an easy stroll through the outskirts of downtown a total of 1.4 miles out and back. You can access it from the parking lot of the Transportation Center, which more commonly known to natives as the train station.

How could I forget the train!!! It is one of our connections to the outside world and an easy and inexpensive trip to the Athens of America aka Boston.

The Garrison Players are a 60 year old community theatre group, and are just finishing up 1776, The Musical, a bang up version of the country's beginnings. In May they will be offering The Nerd, a genuinely hilarious 2 act play. Founded in Dover, they are housed in their own building just across the town line in Rollinsford. We are so lucky to have them, most communities our size do not have anything like it.

The Woodman Museum has been experiencing a re-vitalization recently and has a community event coming in the very near future that you are going to love. Stay tuned!

Speaking of revitalization, Michele Alexander is the new Director of Dover Main Street. Here's another scoop from Dover Doin's. In June, Michele advises that Dover Main Street will be presenting the First Annual Children's Festival. A one day event, it will be focused on learning, history, nature and art and located on Central Ave from 3rd Street to the Rotary Pavilion. More on that later as well.

Krista Trefethen of Dover Recreation advises that the Annual Heyliger Awards will be presented to the Volunteer of the Year and the Sponsor of the Year on Tuesday April 26th, 6pm at the Moose Hall.

According to Krista, they will also be “celebrating all the wonderful things the volunteers give to the youth of Dover.” Another note from Krista, the anxiously awaited Third Annual Dancing with the Dover Stars will take place May 18th. Contestants, get on your dancin' shoes!

Today we have talked about Dover events, places of intereste, even an opportuity to stretch your legs after a loooooon winter on the couch.

Do you think that I have missed anything? I do too. Let me know what needs mentioning as we continue our love affair with our hometown.